Teichoic acids degradation

The walls of Gram-positive bacteria, unlike the membranes, sometimes do not contain teichoic acids. However, there are numerous examples of walls which do contain these compounds in substantial proportions, although in relatively few cases has detailed structural work been carried out. The purification of wall teichoic acids is often much more readily achieved than for the membrane polymers. Addition of ethanol to trichloroacetic acid extracts of walls gives a precipitate which is usually pure teichoic acid. Extraction is effected at low temperatures, and for a reasonably short time, in order to avoid extensive degradation of the polymers under the acidic conditions. Consequently, although walls may contain 20-50% by weight of teichoic acid, practiced yields are generally rather low. 

The ribitol teichoic acids in whole cells and isolated cell walls of Bacillus suhtilis W23 have been determined by g.l.c., which was used to measure ribitol and 2-0-P-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ribitol (as the TMS derivatives) following degradation of the teichoic acids with 60% hydrogen fluoride. ... 

---